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Government also criticised us as being unprofessional in leading the relevant departments to provide municipal and cultural services. However, we have just learnt today from the newspaper that government might appoint an officer of the Administrative Officer Grade to head the new bureau for food and hygiene so as to resolve the conflict among fisheries experts, agriculture experts, environmental protection experts and doctors. If the proposal goes through, government will be slapping its own face and will lose all credibility. I would like to compare government's tactic as advertisements for weight loss by comparing imaginary pictures of those before and after the weight loss programme. The pretext for government to scrap the Municipal Councils is to slim the bulky structure of district consultation. However, it is suggested that upon scrapping, various corresponding consultation set-ups and committees should be formed. Government also promises to enhance the function of district boards. I do not subscribe to the formation of corresponding set-ups for everything. I am afraid when we get down to operations, government will find that the weight loss programme has failed and obesity has become the result. Obesity not only means no weight loss, but it also brings about serious effects of heart disease, shivering hands, hypertension etc. By then, everything will be too late.
The proposal to scrap the Municipal Councils brings us an awakening that we can actually slim our present set-up. That is why we are now counter-proposing the 'One Council One Department' option which is a much healthier way to cut down on weight. To build on the century-old experience of the Urban Council and make adjustments according to the needs of social development is to engineer reform on a sound foundation. It is better than starting everything from the beginning. If we do not stick to this rule, we may end up with the painful situation of turning opportunity into crisis rather than turning crisis into opportunity. The 'One Council One Department' option will enhance coordination between departments and it will keep the community monitoring mechanism in place for better cooperation and communication. It will also streamline the structure, and manpower, complement inadequacies and ensure accountability to the public.
I am most dissatisfied with the pretext used by government towards scrapping of the Municipal Councils. I am also very dissatisfied with the absence of positive and active response or any careful consideration from government to the ‘One Council One Department' option. I want to express my dissatisfaction on this.
With the above remarks, I support and second the amendment moved by Mr. Joseph CHAN.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): There is not much difference between the original and amendment motions. The only thing is that the amendment is more accurately worded and more effective than the original motion. The amendment describes the situation as 'dissolving the Municipal
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Government also criticised us as being unprofessional in leading the relevant departments to provide municipal and cultural services. However, we have just learnt today from the newspaper that government might appoint an officer of the Administrative officer Grade to head the new bureau for food and hygiene so as to resolve the conflict among fisheries experts, agriculture experts, environmental protection experts and doctors. If the proposal goes through, government will be slapping its own face and will lose all credibility. I would like to compare government's tactic as advertisements for weight loss by comparing imaginery pictures of those before and after the weight loss programme. The pretext for government to scrap the Municipal Councils is to skim the bulky structure of district consultation. However, it is suggested that upon scrapping, various corresponding consultation set-ups and committees should be formed. Government also promises to enhance the function of district boards. I do not subscribe to the formation of corresponding set-ups for everything. I am afraid when we get down to operations, government will find that the weight loss programme has failed and obesity has become the result. Obesity not only means no weight loss, but it also brings about serious effects of heart disease, shivering hands, hypertension etc. By then, everything will be too late.
The proposal to scrap the Municipal Councils brings us an awakening that we can actually skim our present set-up. That is why we are now counter- proposing the 'One Council One Department' option which is a much healthier way to cut down on weight. To build on the century old experience of the Urban Council and make adjustments according to the needs of social development is to engineer reform on a sound foundation. It is better than starting everything from the beginning. If we do not stick to this rule, we may end up with the painful situation of turning opportunity into crisis rather than turning crisis into opportunity. The 'One Council One Department' option will enhance coordination between departments and it will keep the community monitoring mechanism in place for better cooperation and communication. It will also streamline the structure, and manpower, complement inadequacies and ensure accountability to the public.
I am most dissatisfied with the pretext used by government towards scrapping of the Municipal Councils. I am also very dissatisfied with the absence of positive and active response or any careful consideration from government to the ‘One Council One Department' option. I want to express my dissatisfaction on this.
With the above remarks, I support and second the amendment moved by Mr. Joseph CHAN.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):-There is not much difference between the original and amendment motions. The only thing is that the amendment is more accurately worded and more effective than the original motion. The amendment describes the situation as 'dissolving the Municipal
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